We’ve Moved! 6121 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Courtney Saaf

Meet Our Newest Team Members

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There are some fresh faces around Secured Retirement; we’re excited to introduce them to you! It takes a dedicated group of professionals to keep our operation running smoothly – some behind the scenes and others front and center. You’ll likely meet with one of these folks in person, hear their voice on the phone, receive an email from them, or maybe even just spot them in our Christmas card. However you’re in touch, each team member is vital to fulfilling our mission of making a significant impact on the families we serve so they can live comfortably, spend confidently, and pay taxes consciously. 

Without further ado, here are our latest recruits!

Austin Bruno – Marketing Outreach

Austin works in our marketing department connecting interested parties with the transformative financial planning we provide. From website inquiries to seminar follow-ups to radio show write-ins, Austin fosters relationships with clients before they even step through our doors. 

Originally from Fort Myers, FL, Austin developed his client service skills in the insurance industry after graduating from college. We are excited he’s found his way to our team! Welcome, Austin.

Edgar Villegas – Paraplanner

Edgar’s joined the Secured Retirement team as a paraplanner. In his role, he works closely with our advisors to prepare, construct, and follow up on the financial plans they’ve outlined. Having more than 5 years of experience as a wealth advisor in his home state of Oregon, Edgar is immensely qualified for this position. We’re lucky to have him!

In addition to his degree in finance, Edgar furthered his education by obtaining his Series 66 and license to sell life and health insurance. He is motivated to help our clients achieve their financial goals.

Elan Chargo – Project Coordinator

As Secured Retirement’s project coordinator, Elan is a key part of making sure our processes, technology, and company goals are all working together. With a Master’s in project management from Northeastern and experience in operations, Elan is assuredly the right person for the job! He is excited to help our team as individuals and as a group best work together so that we can continue to serve clients with the top-notch customer service we’re known for. 

Born and raised in Minnesota, Elan says there’s no place like home and is excited to be furthering his career right here in St. Louis Park. Welcome aboard, Elan!

Welcoming new team members is always a rewarding experience as we continue to strengthen our core capabilities. To learn more about Austin, Edgar, and Elan, as well as the rest of the Secured Retirement team, visit the Our Team page.

Back To Basics In The New Year: 5 Go-To Financial Goals for 2025

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Have you made any resolutions this year? Are they still going strong? Whether or not they are, there are a couple things you can do to feel refreshed in the new year. It’s a natural time for a little reset! 

Maybe last year didn’t quite pan out as you’d hoped in terms of your personal finances. Perhaps you overspent or didn’t contribute enough to your retirement savings. Sometimes, just getting back to basics can help jumpstart movement in the right direction. In that spirit, we’re reminding you of 5 simple ways to improve your financial standing in the new year. If you follow even one of them, your financial health will improve. 

Let’s get started!

1. Get Organized

The first step to financial power is organization. Start by tracking your spending to get a clear picture of where your money goes each month. You might be surprised to see how much you’re spending on both essential and discretionary expenses.

Once you understand your spending habits, create a budget to stay on top of your expenses. A good rule of thumb is to allocate 50% of your income to essential spending, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings. Use tools like spreadsheets, budgeting apps, or your bank’s mobile app to help you monitor and refine your budget.

Reassess your expenses for potential savings. Look for ways to cut back, such as dining out less frequently or canceling unused subscriptions. Additionally, consider making your 2025 IRA contribution early to maximize potential long-term growth.

2. Build An Emergency Fund

With an understanding of your monthly expenses, start building up those emergency savings to protect your financial plan from unexpected disruptions, such as job changes or medical emergencies. Ideally, this is a fund with enough resources to cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses.

Set a target amount and decide how much you can put away each month to reach your goal. Automating deposits into a dedicated savings account can make this process easier. To take advantage of higher interest rates, consider a money market savings account.

3. Develop a Debt-Reduction Strategy

Carrying high-interest debt can hinder your financial progress. Start by focusing on accounts with the highest interest rates, such as credit cards, and aim to pay more than the minimum balance each month.

Consolidating debt into a single loan with a lower interest rate is another effective strategy. Simplifying your debt can make it easier to manage and reduce stress. If you’re expecting extra income, like a raise or bonus, consider using it to pay down balances faster.

4. Enhance Your Investment Contributions

Investing is a key component of long-term financial health. Increasing your contributions and taking a more sophisticated approach can improve your results. Start with your employer-sponsored retirement plan and ensure you’re taking full advantage of their matching programs.

For more diversified growth, consider allocating additional funds to traditional or Roth IRAs, keeping in mind their respective tax benefits and income limits. If you have an HSA, treat it as a dual-purpose account—a safety net for medical expenses and a tax-advantaged investment vehicle. Many HSAs now offer investment options, allowing your contributions to grow beyond a standard savings account.

Meet with one of our advisors to ensure your asset allocation reflects your current financial goals and time horizon.

5. Save for Something Special

What are you looking forward to in 2025? Setting aside money for a short-term goal, such as a vacation or a new car, can keep you motivated and reinforce positive financial habits. First, set a target amount and then a timeline. Decide how much to set aside from each paycheck. Consider automating these contributions into a separate savings account. And be sure to revisit your budget to ensure this goal aligns with your overall financial priorities.

Kick Off 2025 With Good Habits

Making a plan for your money doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and even these simple financial prep goals set you ahead of the millions of Americans flying by the seat of their pants when it comes to finances. If you can do even one, of these things that you haven’t done before, your financial wellness will grow. By staying organized, planning for the unexpected, and committing to your priorities, let 2025 be your year. 

Small, consistent steps can lead to significant progress. Secured Retirement is here to help you make even bigger leaps in financial wellness too. Use your resources and start making smarter financial moves today! Give us a call: 952-460-3260.

Secured Retirement Announces Jacob McCue As Investment Strategist/Advisor

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Secured Retirement is pleased to welcome Jacob McCue to our portfolio management team.

Jake is both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) as well as a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®). The combined financial force of these designations creates an excellent foundation for our advisory and investment processes, bolstering Secured Retirement’s investment capabilities and model performance across all areas of the market.

Having previously collaborated with Secured Retirement leadership, Jake was a natural choice to join the firm this past October. Since then, Jake has demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise in investment and financial strategy. With over a decade of experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge derived from previous roles, including trust investment advisor at a large national bank and investment manager for independent retirement investment advisors.

As part of Secured Retirement’s portfolio management team, Jake will leverage his background to construct portfolios tailored to each client’s unique needs. This continued development of our internal portfolio management expertise highlights a level of fiduciary-based planning rarely seen in firms our size. We’re excited to see him thrive as he steps into this role as investment strategist!

Read more on Jake and the rest of the stand-out Secured Retirement staff on our team page.

 

Jacob McCue

Investment Strategist/Advisor
Secured Retirement

The Election and The Economy

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The Election’s Market Impact

With polls indicating a very tight presidential race, investor skepticism loomed as last week’s election approached, driven largely by concerns over potential delays in confirming a clear winner. Fortunately, results came sooner than expected and with a decisive outcome. In response, markets were propelled higher. The surge in stock prices has been attributable to Donald Trump’s win, as it is believed his administration will promote pro-growth domestic policies and relatively easier regulation. However, the market rally may just as well have been a sigh of relief over a clear outcome. 

While stock performance statistics vary under different presidential administrations, much of the market’s happenings are beyond the control of any one President or Congress. Any political party taking credit for market performance tends to be oversimplified.

How The Trump Presidency May Affect Your Portfolio

So, what might a Trump presidency mean for your portfolio and financial planning? It may be too early to make precise predictions, but there are a few assumptions we can make based on his campaign.

Government spending, national debt, and tax policy come to mind as significant factors. While Trump’s administration may be perceived as pro-business, his first term revealed a tendency toward increased government spending, driving up the national debt. This has played out recently with a rise in government bond yields. U.S. Treasuries no longer carry the perceived safety they used to thanks to rapidly rising debt levels, pushing bond yields higher as investors seek compensation for added risk. Given these dynamics, in our view, bonds may not provide the most favorable returns over the next several years nor the same amount of safety or diversification in investment portfolios as they have over the past several decades. We remain very optimistic in our stock market outlook. The current bull run may slow, but we do not foresee any reason for it stopping, absent an unforeseen, large-scale event.  

Great attention should also be paid to tax policy. The tax cuts initiated during Trump’s first term in office as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are set to expire at the end of next year. With Congress likely to be in step with the President, there’s potential for these cuts to be extended or made permanent. However, this does not mean that taxes will remain lower indefinitely. Under its current trajectory, the debt will eventually become crippling, and at some point, the bill will come due. The most probable way for the federal government to bring in more revenue is to raise taxes since spending cuts seem unlikely.

Looking Ahead

With the election now in our rear-view mirror, we turn our attention to the year ahead. The stock market has delivered strong returns throughout 2024, and we fully anticipate that stocks will maintain positive momentum, continuing to rally through year-end. The Federal Reserve’s expected interest rate cuts next year would further ease monetary policy, providing a stock market tailwind. However, if inflation rebounds—a strong possibility if government spending continues or new tariffs are imposed—the Fed may be forced to reverse course.

While the market has soared in the short time since the election, it is important to stay focused on the long term. Stock market performance tends to have a very weak correlation with which political party is in office. Instead, focus on how specific actions taken by elected leaders may impact your retirement planning and broader financial strategy. As always, to look specifically at your portfolio, and for example, how taxes and bond yields may impact it, give us a call: 952-460-3290.

Nathan Zeller Secured Retirement

Nate Zeller

Chief Investment Strategist
Secured Retirement

Don’t Let These Tax Traps Ruin Your Retirement

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Retirement planning requires a lot of different elements. Investments, tax planning, income planning, and more. Many people dedicate their focus towards managing their investment returns, and while that’s important other factors that can have an even bigger impact on their nest egg get overlooked. One huge factor is taxes.

Taxes could be your largest expense in retirement. Developing strategies around them is key to best positioning your retirement future. To mitigate the negative impact that taxes might have on your retirement savings, be aware of these common tax traps before you start planning that retirement party.

Retirement Tax Trap #1: Claiming Social Security Could Increase Your Tax Bill

Claiming your Social Security benefits could be one of the most important financial decisions of your life. How and when you claim Social Security could impact far more than just the amount of your benefits check. It could also trigger paying taxes on as much as 85% of your benefits.

Don’t make your decision solely based on maximizing your benefits. Instead, consider how it could impact your taxes, Medicare premiums and spousal benefits.

Retirement Tax Trap #2: Withdrawals from Your IRA and 401(k) Are Taxable

Contributing money to your IRA and 401K is easy. But withdrawing this money in retirement is complicated and confusing.

Remember, you must pay taxes when you withdraw this money in retirement. And Required Minimum Distributions will further complicate matters. When you turn 73, “RMD’s” force you to start withdrawing money from these accounts, whether you want to or not. And this could result in paying more and more taxes every year.

The solution? Start planning for RMDs in your 60s to minimize their impact on your tax bill.

Retirement Tax Trap #3: Failing to Diversify for Taxes

Most people understand investment diversification, but few think about diversifying their tax exposure. Many individuals have too much of their retirement savings in tax-deferred accounts, which can lead to big tax headaches down the road.

To minimize your tax burden, aim to have a balance of accounts in three categories: taxed always, taxed later and taxed rarely. If you have too many eggs in one basket, it could spell serious financial trouble in retirement.

Retirement Tax Trap #4: Missing the ROTH IRA or 401(k) Conversion Window

A Traditional IRA or 401K allow tax-free contributions. But you must pay taxes when you withdraw this money in retirement unless you convert some, or all your traditional IRA or 401K to a ROTH.

A ROTH IRA or 401K doesn’t allow tax-free contributions (that’s the catch), but you pay zero taxes when you withdraw money in retirement. ROTH accounts are not subject to RMDs either. That means you get tax-free growth, which could add up to tens of thousands of dollars in retirement (possibly more).

A financial advisor can help you determine whether a ROTH conversion is right for you.

Take Control of Your Retirement Taxes

The good news? You have more control over how much you pay in taxes during retirement than at any other point in your life. But lowering your tax bill doesn’t happen automatically—it requires proactive planning. By addressing these tax traps early, you can set yourself up for a more tax-efficient, stress-free retirement. To set yourself up, give us a call: 952-460-3290.

With Time, Things Grow

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Over 30 years ago, while in the Marine Corps, I was stationed in Beaufort, SC. Having spent four years there, I know that area like the back of my hand. Or so I thought!

When I visited Beaufort with my family this spring, I was surprised to find it looked totally unfamiliar to me.

Places where I’d once spent a great deal of time were completely wiped from the map; replaced with drive-thrus of regional restaurant chains. Some had been left to rot in the humid Carolina heat. New thoroughfares were built and downtown seemed like a different world than the one I remember. 

It had all happened slowly over the decades and, yet, to me, it had happened all at once. I was shocked that I no longer recognized this town I had known so well. 

It turns out, Beaufort County is one of the fastest growing in South Carolina. Between 2010 and 2020, the population increased by more than 20%.

Apparently, they’re about to get a fancy new shopping center. The Lowcountry town is really growing up!

While I looked back over the changes with a little sadness, I’m happy to see this place economically develop. The warm, salt-of-the-earth people were just the same, and I’m glad to see them prosper.

Now that I’m home and reflecting on my recent visit, I can’t help but draw a parallel to retirement planning. It’s just what I do!

Here’s my thinking: In the same way that Beaufort has transformed over the last 30 years, our retirement circumstances change too. They grow, they develop. Retirement planning is made up of incremental changes that accumulate to make a world of difference.

With time, things change. With time, things grow! With the right team, we can embrace the progress and opportunities that come with change. Our shared goals and values always guide us. 

Ultimately, the lesson I’m drawing from this experience is that while change is inevitable, it brings new possibilities. By being adaptable and embracing change, we can enjoy the beauty of the past and the joy of the future.

How does that sound? Let me know your thoughts: 952-460-3290.

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Danielle Christensen

Paraplanner

Danielle is dedicated to serving clients to achieve their retirement goals. As a Paraplanner, Danielle helps the advisors with the administrative side of preparing and documenting meetings. She is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict, with a degree in Business Administration and began working with Secured Retirement in May of 2023.

Danielle is a lifelong Minnesotan and currently resides in Farmington with her boyfriend and their senior rescue pittie/American Bulldog mix, Tukka.  In her free time, Danielle enjoys attending concerts and traveling. She is also an avid fan of the Minnesota Wild and loves to be at as many games as possible during the season!